Ashley Lauren Fisher is the remarkable founder and CEO of Virtual Sports Card. She has shown incredible resilience and achieved tremendous success throughout her career. At the age of twenty-three, Ashley Lauren experienced a spinal cord injury. Despite this setback, she reimagined her restaurant, Pazzo Pazzo, and turned it into a highly acclaimed four-star establishment.
Under her leadership, Pazzo Pazzo received widespread acclaim and was featured in publications such as Morris County Health, Gastronome, The Daily Record, New Jersey Monthly, The Star-Ledger, and The New York Times. The restaurant received prestigious awards such as “Best Martini” from M magazine, “Best Italian” by Diner’s Choice, “Best Outside,” and “Best Culinary Experience” by Open Table. Pazzo Pazzo gained attention from ABC’s Eyewitness News for its exceptional homemade ravioli and attracted a diverse clientele, including notable celebrities like Patti LaBelle, Bobby Brown, Tony Bennett, Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger, Darius Rucker, The Village People, The Beach Boys, and The Jets.
In addition to her culinary achievements, Ashley Lauren is a multi-talented individual, excelling in various artistic pursuits, including piano, modeling, and ballet. As a skilled pianist, she has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Recital and Steinway Hall, collaborating with esteemed musicians. Her modeling career took her to New York City, where she worked with renowned designers and appeared in music videos for MTV.
Ashley Lauren’s passion for sports is equally impressive. She has participated in extreme sports such as skateboarding, rollerblading, water sports, and snowboarding. Additionally, she achieved a remarkable record as a four-year varsity lacrosse player, with 71 wins and only 6 losses. Her exceptional skills and leadership as the center player earned her the distinction of being recognized as the most outstanding center in the state by the Tri-County Coaches Association, a recognition no other Montville player has received. Ashley Lauren’s competitive nature and ability to excel in challenging situations testify to her resilience and determination. She has also made significant contributions to the lacrosse community, serving as a coach and official.
Through her coaching, her son became the first All-American out of Bernards High School in NJ and is starting for Lafayette University Leopards, a D1 lacrosse team. Ashley Lauren is also actively involved with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, dedicating her time and resources to supporting recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. She also played a crucial role in establishing the non-profit organization Discovery Through Design, which focuses on empowering women with disabilities. Through her efforts, she has raised over a million dollars for spinal cord research.
Ashley Lauren’s accomplishments have garnered worldwide attention and recognition. She has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, The New Yorker, and Page 6. Her story has been covered by national and local press, including New Jersey Monthly, Garden State Woman, WHTZ-FM in New York, CBS and ABC networks. In 2007, she was the keynote speaker at the New Jersey Governor’s Conference on Employment for People with Disabilities. She has also been invited to speak at schools and businesses, sharing her valuable insights. Her contributions have earned her numerous awards, including the Up and Coming Female Legend of Morris County Award by the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and induction into the Montville Township High School Hall of Fame. In 2012, the New Jersey Restaurant Association nominated her for Restaurateur of the Year, and she received the prestigious Gold Plate award. In 2013, Ashley Lauren represented National Mobility Awareness Month as the spokesperson for NMEDA, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to drive or be transported in vehicles modified with mobility equipment.
In 2017, Ashley signed with Linda Langton as an author to publish her first book. Despite closing the restaurant in 2019, Ashley’s primary focus has been developing Virtual Sports Card.